An Oklahoma appeals court has put key evidence back in play in the 2022 Oklahoma City murder case against Rana Sievert, clearing the way for a trial now set for May 4, 2026. Sievert is accused of fatally shooting her girlfriend, 24-year-old Brianne Torres, during a fight at a northwest Oklahoma City apartment on Oct. 7, 2022, and investigators say she later attempted to cut off one of Torres’s legs.
According to court records reviewed by News 9, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on April 10, 2026, overturned a lower judge's ruling and reinstated material prosecutors had sought to exclude. The order brought back evidence the state considers central to its case against Sievert.
What Police Say Happened In 2022
Police reports and court filings say Sievert and Torres were in a dating relationship and got into a physical argument inside the apartment. Sievert told investigators she grabbed a handgun from Torres's nightstand and shot her once in the chest, according to KOCO. Search-warrant returns and the City of Oklahoma City's homicide bulletin indicate officers recovered a kitchen knife, seized two security cameras and listed the scene as 8235 N. Rockwell Ave., according to the department release.
What The Appeals Ruling Changes
With the appellate order now in place, prosecutors can seek to introduce the reinstated items at trial, scheduled to begin May 4, 2026, according to News 9. Defense attorneys had previously argued to keep certain materials out of evidence before trial, and the reversal sends the case back to the district court's calendar with more of the state's case potentially on the table.
Where The Case Stands Now
Sievert was initially arrested and booked on a complaint of manslaughter, and authorities later moved to file first-degree murder charges in connection with Torres's death, as reported in 2022 by News On 6. Court filings show pretrial proceedings are underway ahead of the May trial date, with attorneys for both sides expected to press remaining motions related to the reinstated evidence in the coming weeks.
Pretrial hearings and any further appellate filings will determine exactly what jurors see once the case reaches trial. Local court calendars and filings will reflect updates as lawyers move toward the May 4 start date.
